According to The Gospel of Matthew 27:50-52, an earthquake shook Jerusalem when Jesus died, crucified on the cross on Golgotha:
"But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened...."
Using that earthquake as a clue, a team of geologists believe they have pinpointed the date and year of Jesus' crucifixion.
Jennifer Viegas reports for Discovery News, May 24, 2012, that geologist Jefferson Williams of Supersonic Geophysical and colleagues Markus Schwab and Achim Brauer of the German Research Center for Geosciences studied three cores from the beach of the Ein Gedi Spa adjacent to the Dead Sea, which is located 13 miles from Jerusalem, in order to analyze earthquake activity in the region.
Varves, which are annual layers of deposition in the sediments, reveal that at least two major earthquakes affected the core: a widespread earthquake in 31 B.C. and an early first century seismic event that happened sometime between 26 A.D. and 36 A.D.
The latter period occurred during "the years when Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea and when the earthquake of the Gospel of Matthew is historically constrained," Williams said. "The day and date of the crucifixion (Good Friday) are known with a fair degree of precision," but the year has been in question.
In terms of textual clues to the date of the crucifixion, Williams quoted a Nature paper authored by Colin Humphreys and Graeme Waddington. Williams summarized their work as follows:
- All four gospels and Tacitus in Annals (XV,44) agree that the crucifixion occurred when Pontius Pilate was procurator of Judea from 26-36 AD.
- All four gospels say the crucifixion occurred on a Friday.
- All four gospels agree that Jesus died a few hours before the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath (nightfall on a Friday).
- The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) indicate that Jesus died before nightfall on the 15th day of Nisan; right before the start of the Passover meal.
- John's gospel differs from the synoptics; apparently indicating that Jesus died before nightfall on the 14th day of Nisan.
When data about the Jewish calendar and astronomical calculations are factored in, a handful of possible dates result, with Friday April 3, 33 A.D. being the best match, according to the researchers.
Thus, the researchers conclude, as described in the New Testament, Jesus was most likely crucified on Friday April 3, 33 A.D. The report of the team's investigation is published in the journal International Geology Review.
Williams has begun studying yet another possible natural happening associated with the crucifixion - darkness.
Three of the four canonical gospels report darkness from noon to 3 PM after the crucifixion. Such darkness could have been caused by a dust storm. So Williams is investigating if there are dust storm deposits in the sediments coincident with the early first century Jerusalem region earthquake.
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We are living in exciting times. As in the case of the Shroud of Turin, more and more science is confirming Christianity's accounts of the life and death of Jesus Christ.
~Eowyn
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